Press Release

(Hong Kong – 9 December) To nurture students with multiple talents and innovative ideas as well as preparing them to take the challenges in the new era, the Government of HKSAR has put increasing emphasis on STEM education. In view of this practice, the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education has especially organised the “Hong Kong Gifted Education Summit and Exhibition – STEM Policies and Practices”, which is co-organised by the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation. The Opening Ceremony of the event was held today (9 December) at the Hong Kong Science Park.

This summit on new trends of STEM education gathers renowned scholars, STEM education practitioners and policy makers worldwide including Israel, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Japan, South Korea, the Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong to share their valuable experience on implementing STEM education in their regions / countries. Furthermore, 6 local universities will also gather for STEM education for the first time and showcase their remarkable achievements on STEM. Some of their innovative ideas include solar powered cars and solar water purification, apps that could be used in daily life and for medical purposes, newly invented robots, and many other fascinating scientific research achievements.

The event helps to broaden the horizon of the general public, facilitate communications among education practitioners, and provide an opportunity to learn from the world-class scholars for a brand new direction to our future education development in Hong Kong. Prof Ng Tai Kai, Executive Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education, welcomed both overseas and local fellow education practitioners who participated in this greatly anticipated event of the education field. Prof Ng stated, “This is an invaluable opportunity that allows scholars from different countries / regions to exchange ideas on STEM education policies, practices and experiences, and to investigate how STEM education helps to facilitate the development of gifted education. May I wish all fellow education practitioners being inspired by this occasion, and let’s strive for the best for education in Hong Kong!”

Mr Ng Hak Kim, Eddie, SBS, JP, Secretary for Education, was the Officiating Guest of the event. Mr Ng stated, “This event provides a great platform to have discussions on STEM education policies and their implementation. In the 21st century, nurturing and identifying human resources is the primary mission of the Government of HKSAR. To nurture students with multiple talents for the needs of the future society, it is necessary to carry out a student-centred education that implements whole-person development and popularisation of gifted education. In face of a rapid changing society, value education and soft skills are becoming more and more prominent.”

Two of the speakers shared with us the STEM education practices in their countries. Prof Hong Ding, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech that titled “Science Education Engagement in China”. Prof Ding pointed out, “In China, scientists and entrepreneurs organised a Future Forum. Through it, the Future Science Prize was formed to encourage students to study in science and make them feel that ‘science is cool’. The Future Forum Public Science Talks were also organised to promote technology education, and there are over ten million viewers who have watched the talks online by far. Moreover, we have set up the Dali Centre for Sciences and Arts, and hopefully by holding activities and conferences in such a beautiful place would help to stimulate more innovative ideas.”

Dr Alan I. Leshner, Chief Executive Officer Emeritus, American Association for the Advancement of Science, shared his speech that titled “An American View of High Quality STEM Education”. Dr Leshner pointed out, “Science and technology have always been important to the States, and they are getting more and more important. We stress on nurturing outstanding talents on science and technology for our future. The States has been doing an adequate job of identifying and educating gifted students, but we might be missing some talented students in ethnic minority groups and disadvantaged communities. We hope to make a change on this scope, allowing more students to live up to their potential, and taking this opportunity to exchange ideas with other countries and learn from one another.”

Mr Ng Hak Kim, Eddie, SBS, JP, Secretary for Education, visiting the “Hong Kong Gifted Education Summit and Exhibition – STEM Policies and Practices”	The Officiating Guests held the Opening Ceremony by watering the plants, which implies STEM education growing like budding seeds, and nurturing future talents for our society.
Prof Hong Ding, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech that titled “Science Education Engagement in China”.	Dr Alan I. Leshner, Chief Executive Officer Emeritus, American Association for the Advancement of Science, shared his speech that titled “An American View of High Quality STEM Education”.